The hand of the Lord was upon me:
Elohim uses people from different backgrounds to do his will on earth. The Bible is full of true stories of people whose lives were under total control and influence of Elohim. We have Noah, whom Elohim used to preach righteousness (2Pet.2:5), Moses, an unwilling man, to lead his people out of slavery, Jonah, the reluctant prophet, etc.

Ezra was such a man who was determined to seek Elohim and allowed the Lord to use him. After the Jews were taken captive to Babylon, in 536B.C, Zerubbabel led a group of people to rebuild the     temple. In 457 B.C., Ezra led a group of Jews from Babylon to Jerusalem. The   last four chapters tell of Ezra’s arrival in Jerusalem and the work he did there. Ezra acknowledged his success to the fact that ‘the hand of the Lord was upon me’.

In all his efforts at returning to Jerusalem, the hand of the Lord was on Ezra. It was because of this continual guidance and protection of Elohim that Artaxerxes allowed him to go to Jerusalem, to take silver and gold to buy animals for sacrifice, to buy what is needed for the service of the house of Elohim, all taxes were waived, to set up judges and magistrates.
When Ezra was ready to go to Jerusalem, he could not find any Levites to do service in the temple. So he sent people to search for the Levites and found 39 Levites and 220 Nethinim to assist the Levites. All this was possible because the hand of Elohim was on Ezra.

Ezra asked the Lord to show them the right way to travel, so did not ask the king for any assistance. The journey was not a safe one because of the thieves and robbers on the way. The journey was also through desert and wilderness. But because Elohim’s hand was upon them, and they safely arrived in         Jerusalem

The Lord’s hand was upon Ezra from the beginning of his enterprise till the very end. We wonder why Elohim chose to be with Ezra, why Elohim blessed Ezra in all that he did. Read Ezra 7:10. ‘For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.’ Elohim was with Ezra because he

1. had prepared his heart,
2. to seek the Law of the Lord,
3. to do it,
4. to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.

What a lesson there is for all of us here! If we want Elohim’s blessings on us, here is the secret.

The Chaldeans (Babylonians), among whom Ezra lived, devoted their time to the study of the stars. Ezra may have been tempted to do the same, but he chose to study the word of the Lord. He did not prepare his facts, logic or arguments for returning to Jerusalem. He prepared his heart, he put away everything that would pollute him, he emptied his heart so that he would be a fit vessel for the service of Elohim. He asked for Elohim’s protection through fasting and prayer. Elohim rewards those who diligently seek Him, such faith undoubtedly pleases Him. Heb 11:6,’But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’

To seek or study the law is to aim at obtaining a complete knowledge of it. This is possible only if we diligently study the word of Elohim. Seeking the law is to search and find out the true meaning of it, and learn what sin is and how we should avoid them, and what is to be done and what is not to be done. John.5:39 says,’ Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.’ We should be like the Bereans who searched the scriptures. Paul told Timothy  "Study to show yourself approved of God" (2 Tim. 2:15). “The Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." (Pro.2:6). He promises us if we seek his Law diligently and with an honest heart we will find it!

Having studied the word of the Lord we should be ready to do it, to live according to his word. Jas 1:22 -24,’But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.’ If we only study the word of Elohim and don’t do it, then our study is in vain, useless. Application of the knowledge we have gained is very important. Ezra stepped out towards Jerusalem demonstrating his faith!

Ezra not only sought the law of Elohim and lived according to it but he also taught it to the people. Read Nehemiah 8:1-8 and we will see how he taught the laws while all the people stood in front of the temple. Mal 2:7,’For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.’ Rom 10:17,’So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’ We should share what we have learnt with others so that they will also grow in faith.

Ezra was able to do great things for Elohim in spite of hindrances and troubles on the way. The hand of the Lord was upon Ezra because he had prepared himself to seek the law and to do it and teach others. If we are like Ezra, the hand of the Lord is always on us to bless us. If we do not love the Lord, if we do not live for Him, then his hand is on us to pass judgment as it happened to the Philistines. (I Sm.5:7-9).
  
May we be encouraged by the life of Ezra and enjoy His presence and blessings.

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